High species diversity of Echinococcus spp. in wild mammals of Namibia

Aschenborn, Ortwin; Aschenborn, Julia; Beytell, Piet; Wachter, Bettina; Melzheimer, Joerg; Dumendiak, Sonja; Rüffler, Bianka; Mackenstedt, Ute; Kern, Peter; Römig, Thomas; Wassermann, Marion

doi:10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.04.009

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Parasites from South Africa were obtained from roadkills in the northern provinces Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The Namibian samples consisted of faecal material of individual animals from the Etosha National Park or parasites found during necropsy of legally hunted jackals ( Lupulella mesomelas ) and cheetahs ( Acinonyx jubatus ) on farmland that had been collected in the context of other surveys ( Wassermann et al, 2015 ; Aschenborn et al, 2023 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hidden diversity of cestodes in wild African carnivores: I. Non-taeniid cyclophyllideans

Dumendiak,

Halajian,

Mekonnen

et al. 2024

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hidden diversity of cestodes in wild African carnivores: I. Non-taeniid cyclophyllideans

Dumendiak,

Halajian,

Mekonnen

et al. 2024

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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“…The haplotype variant of the E. ortleppi samples is widely distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa . Both oryx and black-backed jackals are able to travel large distances and could have introduced the parasites from elsewhere; black-backed jackals have previously been identified as carriers of both E. ortleppi and E. canadensis G6/7 on central Namibian farmland (Aschenborn et al, 2023). Alternatively, introduction in the past through livestock transported from elsewhere for slaughter in Oranjemund cannot be excluded.…”

Section: Host Species Number Of Isolated Taeniid Eggsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…in Deplazes et al, 2017). Numerous species of wild carnivores and herbivores have been identified in Africa as hosts for Echinococcus (Aschenborn et al, 2023;Carmena & Cardona, 2014;Hüttner & Romig, 2009;Macpherson & Wachira, 1997). Most of this data is from the pre-molecular era, so the causative species of Echinococcus were not identified.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When wildlife comes to town: interaction of sylvatic and domestic host animals in transmission of Echinococcus spp. in Namibia

Aschenborn,

Kern

et al. 2023

Helminthologia

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Summary The present study was conducted in the isolated desert town of Oranjemund in the far south of Namibia. It is an extremely arid region where no livestock husbandry is practiced and only animals adapted to the desert can be found. However, in and around the city, artificial irrigation maintains lush green patches of grass that attract wild animals, in particular oryx antelopes (Oryx gazella). In 2015 four oryx antelopes were euthanised due to poor conditions and a post-mortem examination was conducted. Two were found positive for cystic echinococcosis and 16 cysts were collected for molecular analyses. In addition, faecal samples from black-backed jackals (n=5) and domestic dogs (n=9), which were regularly observed to feed on oryx carcasses, were collected and taeniid eggs isolated. Parasite species identification of the cysts and eggs was done by amplifying and sequencing the mitochondrial nad1 gene. Both oryx antelopes were found infected with E. ortleppi and one co-infected with E. canadensis G6/7. Both Echinococcus species were able to develop fertile cysts in oryx, making oryx antelopes competent hosts for these parasites. Therefore, the analysis of faecal samples was of high interest and although the numbers were quite small, taeniid eggs were found in three out of five faecal samples of jackals and in all nine dog samples. However, species determination was only successful with two jackal and one dog sample. All three were positive for E. canadensis G6/7. The absence of E. ortleppi may be due to the low number of faecal samples examined. In our small study, we discovered a rather unique lifecycle of Echinococcus spp. between jackals and domestic dogs as definitive hosts and oryx antelopes as intermediate hosts. Here, the presence of E. canadensis G6/7 is of particular concern, as it is the second most important causative agent of CE in humans.

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High species diversity of Echinococcus spp. in wild mammals of Namibia

Cited by 2 publications

References 37 publications

Hidden diversity of cestodes in wild African carnivores: I. Non-taeniid cyclophyllideans

Hidden diversity of cestodes in wild African carnivores: I. Non-taeniid cyclophyllideans

When wildlife comes to town: interaction of sylvatic and domestic host animals in transmission of Echinococcus spp. in Namibia

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